The Effects of Humidity on Your Maryland Deck

July 12, 2017

Discover how to keep your deck beautiful all summer long.

There are two things that are certain about every Maryland summer—there will be crabs from the Chesapeake Bay and there will be humidity. While humidity is an annoyance for people headed outside to enjoy the warm weather, it can do damage to everything hardwood in your home, from your hardwood flooring to your hardwood deck out back. What does humidity do to your deck and how can you protect your Maryland deck?

Deck Staining

Were you planning on staining your deck this summer? If you’ve waited this long, you can typically still get away with it despite the humidity. However you will need to make sure that it isn’t too humid, otherwise, it will take way too long to dry. Once you apply a new layer of stain onto your Maryland deck, you need to keep all people, pets, and bugs off of the surface. You will also need to ensure that there is no rain in the forecast for at least a few days if it is particularly humid outside. If you aren’t sure whether or not rain will stay away for a few days, it’s best to wait until there are drier days in the fall and try your staining luck then.

Mildew

Mold and mildew spores are always in the air outside, but they require humidity and moisture to thrive on surfaces. Once the humidity levels in Maryland creep up, they will try to grow on just about anything you can think of. Mildew thrives when there is a relative humidity of 70-93%. Heat can also actually accelerate the growth of mildew and mold on wooden surfaces, so you need to frequently check your deck during warmer weeks.

If you have mildew or mold on your Maryland deck, create a mixture of 1-quart bleach and 3 quarts of water and pay extra attention to shady areas that stay moist for longer periods of time.

Maryland Decks from Infinity Landscaping

At Infinity Landscapes, LLC, we’re ready to improve the look of your home or business with quality landscaping services. As a family owned and operated business, we understand just how important your home or business is to you. If you’re ready to begin your landscaping project, our professionals will ensure that the job is done well to reach your standards.

For more information about our services, visit us online or give us a call at (443) 554-8216. For more tips on how to keep your residence or business looking great follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Houzz, and more!